History of California, Volume III, Part 34

Author: Bancroft, Hubert Howe
Publication date: 1885-1890
Publisher: San Francisco, Calif. : The History Company, publishers
Number of Pages: 824

USA > California > History of California, Volume III > Part 34

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1 See chap. iv., this volume.

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MISSIONS AND SECULARIZATION.

proved by the diputacion in July and August 1830, and sent to the supreme government in September for approval.2 The padres made little opposition to

2 Echeandia, Plan para convertir en Pueblos las Misiones, 1820-30, MS. 1. The missions shall be converted into pueblos one by one as the territorial govt may determine, in view of the reports of the missionaries and president, and in conformity with the dip. In case the dip. opposes the views of the gefe, the matter is to be referred to the sup. govt. 2. Beginning at once without distinction as may be convenient with the 4 (7?) nearest the presidios, pueblos, and villa; then following also without distinction with S. Buenaventura, S. Juan Capistrano, S. Luis Obispo, and S. Antonio; then the rest in succession -but the change is not to be effected the first year in more than two mis- sions, in order to observe what is to be done later with the rest. 3. The ranchos joined to each mission will continue to recognize it as head town, being ruled by an auxiliary alcalde or by an ayuntamiento, as may seem best to the govt in accordance with the laws. 4. The new ayunt. will recognize as head town of the partido the presidio or pueblo recognized in their last elections for diputados. 5. Farming and grazing lands, which by constant use down to the date of swearing to independence or by approval of the ter. govt they have cultivated and occupied with their property, are to remain the property of these pueblos-which will be composed of their neophytes and of such other Mexicans as may wish to settle in them according to the terms of following articles on the distribution of lands: 6. To neophytes, including those absent with leave, and to other servants of the mission wishing to re- main, will be distributed by lot, to each family a house-lot 75 varas square and a field 200 v. sq .- the lots in blocks of four, 150 v. sq. with suitable streets and plazas. Some details respecting equitable division of lands with regard to quality. 7. To each pueblo will be assigned an egido of 1 sq. league for each 500 head of live-stock-of good grazing land near the settlement. S. Within 6 months of the publication of the change of any mission into a pue- blo, there shall be given to each family 3 cows, 3 horses, 3 sheep, a yoke of oxen, a mule or an ass; various implements named, both to families and for common use; and they are also to receive for a year rations proportioned to the preceding crop. 9. Other families, not neophytes or with leave of ab- sence, will have lots and fields from those that remain. No one may pasture in the egido over 50 cattle and 25 horses. 10. All property thus distributed to be indivisible and inalienable for 5 years; neither can the settlers or their heirs encumber this property with any mortgage, lien, etc. 11. The settlers must be governed by the general, territorial, and local laws and regulations, in like manner as at S. José and Los Angeles at the beginning, all paying tithes of course. 12. Of similar purport, each individual to obey the laws of Mex. and Cal. 13. Details respecting later distribution of stallions, bulls, etc. 14. Names of all individuals to be recorded with the distribution of property. 15. The pueblos to keep the names of the missions, but the set- tlers may propose any other name 'of laudable origin' to the dip. and to con- gress. 16. The church and the rooms used for service and residence of the chaplain or curate are to be those now occupied and such as may be built later. The rest of the mission buildings will be devoted to uses of the ayunt., prisons, barracks, schools, hospital, etc., and the present dwellings of the neophytes will serve at present for the pueblo officials. 17. The live-stock and other property remaining after the distribution will remain in charge of an administrator subject to the inspection of the ayunt. and of the dip. Re- maining lands, to the extent of 4 sq. leagues for 1,000 head of large stock, and 3 sq. leagues for small stock, to serve for the support of the flocks and herds; and expenses of labor, etc., to be paid from the product of the capital. 18. From the remainder of said capital, rent of surplus lands, yield of vineyards, etc., will be paid the wages of a school-master, hospital expenses, and other

303

ECHEANDIA'S PLAN.

this plan in California, trusting rather to efforts in Mexico, and especially to the change in national ad- ministration, which was to furnish for the territory a new governor and a new policy.

There had been no avowed intention on the part of governor or diputacion to carry into practical effect the provisions of the plan without the consent of the superior authorities, and in forming the plan Echeandía had but obeyed after long delay his instructions from Mexico. It became, however, more and more prob- able as the months passed by that a new governor would arrive in advance of the desired ratification; hence a strong temptation to act without that ratifi- cation.3 In a letter written in 1833 Echeandía de- fended his action substantially as follows. "At the beginning of 1831 I found myself," by reason of im- proved organization of territorial and municipal gov- ernment, the aid of an asesor and ayudante inspector, the separation of Baja California, and other favorable circumstances, "in a condition to attend to mission reforms. Knowing that Guadalupan missionaries were coming, and that it was as important to prevent their succession to the temporal administration as to secure their succession to the spiritual; considering that on account of continual wars in Mexico my plans could not have received attention, and had perhaps been lost on the way; having the presidial companies

institutions of asylum, correction, and instruction, deemed necessary. 19. The curates will continue to receive, as the missionaries do now, $400 from the pious fund; which will be increased to $700, $800, $900, or $1,000, ac- cording to the size of the pueblo, from the product of the funds in charge of the administrator. If these funds be insufficient, the sum may be made up by a pro-rata tax on the funds of other pueblos; or in extreme cases by a con- tribution in the interested pueblo. 20. The ter. govt, with approval of the gen. govt, will provide in detail for whatever may seem best for the prog- ress and well-being of each pueblo, acting provisionally as circumstances may demand. 21. The missionaries may remain in charge of the spirit- ual administration, receiving the allowance of art. 19; or they may go to forni new missions in the ranchos not to be converted into pueblos, or at any other points in the interior. Leg. Rec., MS., i. 134-58; Guerra, Doc., MS., i. 5-14; Dept. Rec., MS., viii. 79.

3 The plan was favorably reported to congress by the minister. Mexico, Mem. Relaciones, 1831, p. 33; Sup. Gort St. Pup., MIS., vii. 1; and it was only Echeandía's later action that was disapproved.

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MISSIONS AND SECULARIZATION.

to support on home resources; being in constant trou- ble on account of the soldiers of the escoltas, often favorites and servants of the padres and corrupters of the neophytes; knowing well that to insure the integ- rity of the nation and tranquillity and prosperity at home, it was best to abolish once for all the oppression of the neophytes by establishing a secular govern- ment, since once converted from slaves to proprietors they would become enthusiastic supporters of the fed- eral system, a means of defence against foreign schemes, and of support to the territorial government and troops; desiring to release the missionaries for the founding of new missions; therefore I proposed to consolidate the security and good order of the terri- tory by converting into free men and proprietors the 18,000 forzados, indigentes reducidos in the old mis- sions, in order to advance rapidly to the civilization of the multitude of gentiles who also with their lands belong to our nation, thus avoiding the necessity of foreign colonization. Therefore I repeat, at the be- ginning of 1831, all being ready for the regeneration intrusted to me, and for which I had striven so hard, mindful of the laws and of the benefits to result, tak- ing advantage of the most fitting occasion to develop the power of right by which was to be restrained the colossal arbitrary power of the missionaries-I took steps to put the neophytes under the civil authorities, deeming this the fullest possible compliance with the laws and superior orders."4

The special pleading quoted, or condensed from the author's original verbosity, was of course all beside the true question at issue. The territorial govern- ment, as Echeandía well knew, had no power to secularize the missions. Nevertheless, a decree of secularization was issued January 6, 1831. It was an illegal and even revolutionary measure, devised by

' Echeandia, Carta que dirige a Don José Figueroa, 1833, MS., p. 44-50. Though put in quotation-marks, what I have given is but a brief résumé of the author's endless and complicated words and phrases.

305

DECREE OF JANUARY, IS31.

José María Padrés in supposed furtherance of his own interests or radical theories, and those of a few friends. I have already had something to say of this golpe de estado.5 Had it been accomplished some months earlier, there might have been a plausible hope on the part of Padrés and his party for success; but now when Victoria was already in California, it was a most absurd and aimless scheme, unless indeed it was intended to have the effect it did have; that is, to drive Victoria to the commission of arbitrary acts and thus lay the foundation for a revolution. The results politically have been related.

The decree of January 6, 1831, was for the most part in accordance with the plan of 1830. From the original in my possession I form the appended ré- sumé.6 San Carlos and San Gabriel were to be organ-

5 See chap. vii., this vol. The views of Padrés in this connection, already well known to the reader, are given at some length in Osio, Hist. Cal., MIS., 135-64; Vallejo, Hist. Cal., MS., ii. 234-62; Alvarado, Ilist. Cal., MS., ii. 130-1; Guerra, in Carrillo (J.), Doc., MS., 31-2; Robinson's Life in Cal., 97; Figueroa, Manifiesto, 2-3.

6 Echeandia, Decreto de Secularizacion de Misiones, 6 de Enero, 1831, MS. Also in Dept. Rec., MS., ix. 63-77; Arch. Sta B., MS., ix. 435-70. The document is signed at Monterey on Jan. Gth, by E. and, in the secre- tary's absence, by José María Padrés.

Preamble .- Whereas, 1. All Mexicans enjoy the rights granted by the organic law except the mission Indians; 2. The law of Sept. 13, 1813, ex- pressly provides that the missions be formed into towns; 3. Grave evils will result from the continued granting of licenses as heretofore; 4. The dip .- be- ing convinced that the neophytes live in a state of discontent, that most of the friars have declared themselves opposed to independence and the national govt, and that the decay of the missions must follow-decreed in August last in accord with my propositions the manner of distributing lands and property; therefore I have deemed it proper to decree for the present as follows: 1. S. Gabriel and S. Carlos are to be organized as towns, the latter retaining the name of Carmelo. 2. At S. Gabriel 4 comisarios to be elected, dependent on the ayunt. of Los Angeles until the population be determined, and to be elected under the direction of a trustworthy person selected by that ayunt. 3. Same at S. Carlos, dependent on ayunt. of Monterey. Elec- tions to take place on 3d and 4th Sundays of Jan .; officers to enter upon the discharge of their duties on Feb. Ist. 4. The ranchos of each mission to con- tinue subject to it, and to have a sub-comisario if the number of inhabitants be considerable. 5, 6. Identical with art. 5, 6, of the plan of 1830. 7. All inhab, of the two missions 25 years old, or 18 years if married, are entitled to grants of land in fee simple; but the lands cannot be subjected to entail or mortmain. 8, 9, 10. Correspond with 8, 7, 12, of the plan. 11. Unmarried neophytes of 25 years or more to have only half the house lot granted by art. 6; and to have a smaller share of live-stock, tools, etc., than the others. 12-17. Correspond in substance to art. 10, 14, 11-13, 16, 17, IS, of the plan. 18. An administrator is to be appointed for each town; and for this purpose

HIST. CAL., VOL. III. 20

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MISSIONS AND SECULARIZATION.

ized at once into towns, the surplus property after distribution to neophytes passing under the control of secular administrators. A similar change was to be effected at most of the other missions as rapidly as the comisionados appointed to superintend the distri- bution could attend to their duties. Suitable pro- vision was made for the support of the ministers, and for the education of Indian children.

Governor Victoria had arrived at Santa Bárbara on his way to assume the command, the transfer of which Echeandía purposely delayed for the advance- ment of the secularization scheme, and he took steps to prevent the official publication of the bando of Jan- uary 6th in the south.7 His exact instructions from

heads of families are to choose three men to be named to the ayunt., which body will forward the names to the gov. with a report on qualifications. 19. The administrator to have charge of all property remaining after the distri- bution, the same to be delivered to him by inventory. 20. The citizens in- terested will appoint the necessary majordomos, who will be under the administrator's direction. 2]. They will also propose to the comisario the proper salaries of administrator and majordomos, to be laid before the ayunt. and gov. 22. Corresponds to art. 17-18 of plan. 23. The minister will be allowed $1,000 at S. Gabriel and $600 at Carmelo, including the sínodo of $400. 24. At S. F., S. José, Sta Clara, S. Juan Bautista, Soledad, S. Antonio, S. Miguel, Sta Ines, S. Buenaventura, S. Fernando, S. Juan Capistrano, and S. Diego, comisarios, administrators, and majordomos will be chosen as provided in art. 2-4, 18, 20; but in other respects they will con- tinue under the community system until the comisionados for the distribu- tion of lands, etc., shall have concluded their labors at S. Gabriel and S. Carlos, when they will attend to these. 25. The ministers of these missions will be furnished by the administrators with support and servants in addition to their sinodos until a proper allowance for their spiritual services is deter- mined on. 26. At Sta Cruz, S. Luis Obispo, Purísima, Sta Bárbara, and S. Luis Rey only comisarios and majordomos are to be chosen, the administra- tion remaining for the present in the hands of the padres. 27. In the future, for the purposes indicated, S. F. will belong to the port of the same name; S. José and Sta Clara to the ayunt. of S. José; Sta Cruz, S. Juan, Soledad, S. Antonio, S. Miguel, and S. Luis Obispo to that of Monterey; Purísima, Sta Inés, Sta Bárbara, and S. Buenaventura to the comandancia of Sta Bárbara; S. Fernando and S. Juan Capistrano to the ayunt. of Los Angeles; and S. Luis Rey and S. Diego to the comandancia of S. Diego. 28. With all pos- sible haste a school is to be establised at S. Gabriel and at Carmelo, in which reading, writing, and arithmetic will be taught as well as the best morals and politics. 29. Each of the southern missions up to Sta Ines will send 4 clear-licaded pupils over 18 years of age to the school at Monterey. 30. Each of the northern missions will send 4 Indian pupils to Carmelo. 31. The pupils to be chosen by the comisarios and administrators. 32. Teachers to have $10 or $50 according to skill; and to have also $15 for each proficient pupil produced in 6 months, or $5 for each at the end of a year. 33. Per- sons deeming themselves competent to teach will make application to local authorities.

7 Jan. 7, 1831, Guerra says the new mandarin expresses very sensible

307

ATTEMPT TO ENFORCE THE PLAN.

Mexico are not known, but the spirit of the adminis- tration which he represented was favorable to the friars; and he understood perfectly not only the ille- gality of Echeandía's act, but its motive and the influ- ence of Padrés in the matter. In the north the bando was more or less fully published in January. The document with the proper instructions and requests was sent not only to local officials, but to the padre prefect and bishop, who were urged to instruct and prepare the friars for the change.8 The ayuntamiento of Monterey on the 8th chose a comisionado for each of the seven missions of the district.º José Castro and Juan B. Alvarado were sent to San Miguel and San Luis Obispo respectively, where they read the decree and made speeches to the assembled neophytes. At San Luis, and probably at all the missions of the district, the comisarios were elected; but at San Mi- guel, after listening to the orators, the neophytes ex- pressed a very decided preference for the padre and

views in regard to the missions-that is, of course his views were favorable to the padres. Carrillo (J.), Doc., MS., 33. Jan. 14th, V. to E. Has just seen 'by a lucky accident' the edict, which contains provisions entirely con- trary to superior instructions and orders. He has taken steps to counteract the evil results, but holds E. responsible if any occur. St. Pap., Miss. and Colon., MS., ii. 35-6. Jan. 19th, V. to sup. govt, denouncing the decree as a scheme for plundering the missions, instigated by Padres. It was published at Monterey and probably at S. Francisco; but elsewhere it was decined too risky. Sup. Govt St. Pap., MS., viii. 8-10. Yet the decree was known in the south; for on Jan. 21st, Com. Arguello at S. Diego directs to the com. gen. an argument against making the proposed change at S. Gabriel, chiefly because the troops could not get along without the supplies furnished by that mission. Dept. St. Pap., MS., iii. 1-3. Echeandia in 1832 stated that the devil had prompted Victoria to prevent the publication in the south an ? afterwards to nullify the decree in the north, giving no reasons for such shameful conduct! St. Pap., Miss. and Colon., MS., ii. 61. On the general fact of V.'s nullification of the decree, see Tuthill's Hist. Cul., 131; Halleck's Report, 125; Ord, Ocurrencias, MS., 38-9; Amador, MMemorias, MS., 126-S.

8 Jan. 6, 1831, E. to bishop of Sonora. Dept. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., 1xxiii. 52. Same to prefect. Id., Ixxi. 6-7; Dept. Rec., MS., ix. 77. Same to comandantes and ayuntamientos. Id., viii. 136. Jan. 12th, same to Zamo- rano, recommendations on distribution of land at S. Gabriel. Zamorano inay have been appointed comisionado for that mission. Id., ix. 78. Jan. 12th, same to com. of Escoltas, who are to aid Alcalde Buelna in publishing tho decree, and to obcy not the padres' orders but those of the comisarios, after such have been chosen. Id., ix. 79.

9 Monterrey, Actas del Ayuntamiento, 1831-5, MS., 25. The comisionados were Juan B. Alvarado for S. Luis Obispo, José Castro for S. Miguel, Ant mio Castro for S. Antonio, Tiburcio Castro for Soledad, Juan Higuera for S. Juan Bautista, Sebastian Rodriguez for Sta Cruz, and Manuel Crespo for S. Carlos.

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MISSIONS AND SECULARIZATION.

the old system.10 On account of Victoria's arri- val the matter went no further than the election of comisarios; nor is there any record that it went so far in the districts of San José and San Francisco.

For the rest of 1831, during the exciting epoch of the revolt against Victoria, there is little to be said of mission history, and the project of secularization was at a stand-still. There is a notable absence in the archives of missionary correspondence for the year; and the padres have thus evaded-whether to any extent voluntarily or through accidental loss of pa- pers I am not quite sure-a definite record of their attitude in the quarrel that distracted the territory; though there can be no doubt that their sympathies were strongly in Victoria's favor. The bishop replied in March, by stating briefly that he had no curates at his disposal, and by requesting information upon all that concerned the welfare of California.11 It would seem that even Victoria had some instructions not al- together opposed to secularization, for in August President Duran issued a circular, in which he asked of the padres, apparently by the governor's order, their opinions of a scheme for emancipating the neo- phytes and distributing the estates on a basis includ- ing the maintenance of religious service, the support of the padres, and the retention of community property

10 Dept. St. Pap., MS., iii. 3-5; Dept. Rec., MS., ix. 85. The Indians said they respected the government and the decree, but by reason of their poverty and ignorance they desired no change. Alvarado, Hist. Cal., MS., iii. 6-7, narrates his efforts at S. Miguel, where from a cart in the mission courtyard he vividly pictured the advantages of freedom to the Indians; then requested those who wished to remain under the padre to stand on the left and those preferring freedom on the right. Nearly all went to the left at first, where they were soon joined by the small minority who had not the courage of their convictions. Alvarado says the Indians of S. Luis and S. Antonio expressed the same views. Jan. 21st, E. to alcalde of Monterey. The election of comisarios at S. Carlos was illegal and void; and a new one must be held. Dept. Rec., MS., ix. 84. Jan. 25th, alcalde of Monterey to Sebastian Rodriguez. Will introduce the new system (at Sta Cruz) after Feb. Ist. Monterey, AArch., MS., xvi. 9.

11 March 22, 1831, bishop at Fuerte to gov. St. Pup., Miss. and Colon., MS., ii. 58. Echeandía interpreted this as an acceptance of the change, but says that later, when he heard of Victoria's acts, the bishop began to throw obstacles in the way. Id., ii. 53.

309

DURAN'S COMMENTS.

to a certain amount with which to found new missions. There are extant the replies of only three friars, two of whom opposed and one approved the proposition.12

At the end of December Duran prepared-probably for use in Mexico, with a view to prevent a renewal of Echeandía's original scheme, now that Victoria had fallen-a series of commentaries on the decree of Jan- uary. It was one of the ablest documents that was ever written by a friar in California, but one which cannot be presented en résumé, and much too long for literal reproduction. On the decree, article by article, Padre Narciso expends the full force of his talent and learning, with not infrequent volleys of wit, sarcasm, ridicule, and bitter denunciation. Not a weak spot, and there were many, is overlooked, and not a weapon is neglected. In the paper there is much of sound ar- gument, shrewd special pleading, evasion of real issues, and Franciscan prejudice, but little misrepresentation of facts. The standard position of all missionaries, that the Indians were absolute owners of the soil and all the mission property, but that they were still chil- dren requiring parental control, and that the friars alone were qualified to exercise that control, was pre- sented over and over in a great variety of ingenious forms. Echeandía's lack of authority to make the changes was insisted on, as were many legal discrep-

12 The circular was dated Aug. 13th, and is not extant, its contents being known only from the three replies. P. Juan Cabot writes from S. Miguel Aug. 24th, that while he would be glad to be freed from his cares, he can see no way of distributing the estates without producing ruin. The Indians of lis mission would have to be scattered at long distances in order to get a liv- ing, and he could not be responsible for their spiritual care. P. Jose Sanchez deemed the execution of the project probably inevitable, but sure to result, as it was intended to, in total destruction to the missions. Taking into consid- eration what had happened in Baja California and Sonora, he could see no possibility of good results here. 'So far as it concerns me personally,' he writes, 'would that it might be to-morrow, that I might retire between the four walls of a cell to weep over the time I have wasted in behalf of theso miserables !' P. José Joaquin Jimenez of Sta Cruz wrote in October that in view of the reasons urged by the government, and of the fact that the burden was becoming insupportable to the friars, it would be wisest to free the In- dians and distribute the property on the basis proposed; but also that the Indians should be obliged to keep their share and to work. Arch. Sta B., MS., viii. 13-19.

310

MISSIONS AND SECULARIZATION.

ancies between the decree and the law of 1813 on which it purported to rest, and strong points were made by ridiculing the pretended desire to civilize and educate the Indians in view of what the gente de razon had accomplished in that direction for themselves. In a note I give some brief quotations from Padre Duran's epílogo.13

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History of California, Volume III, Part 34

Author: Bancroft, Hubert Howe Publication date: 1885-1890 Publisher: San Francisco, Calif. : The History Company, publishers Number of Pages: 824

Author: Bancroft, Hubert Howe
Publication date: 1885-1890
Publisher: San Francisco, Calif. : The History Company, publishers
Number of Pages: 824